Acoustic device



J. J. KUHN ACOUSTIC DEVICE Nov. 3, 1936.

Filed Oct. 12, 1935 FIG.

2 A. .im

IN VE N TOR Q Qdd d J. .1. KUHN BY .ammauwa A T TOR/V5 Y Patented Nov.3, 1936 I v UNITED STATES PAT E\NT OFFICE.

ACOUSTIC DEVICE John J. Kuhn, Elizabeth, H. J., assignor to BellTelephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application Qctober 12, 1933, Serial No. 693,260 v 6 Claims.(Cl. 179-182) This invention relates to acoustic devices. embodying thisinvention, partly insection and More particularly, .it relates toacoustic devices partly broken away to show details of construcof thesound reproducing type which enable one tion; person to listen to aradio or other program with- Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of amodification out disturbing others in the same vicinity. of the acousticdevice of Fig. 1; 5

An object of the invention is to enable a person Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the device of Fig. 2 who wishes to listen to a radio or other programwith the covering and telephone unit removed, .to do so withutdisturbing or annoying others various layers being partly broken away;and

in the same vicinity. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a fragment of a Afurther object is to enable a person to use a modification of themulti-layer cushioning mem- 1o pillow type telephone receiver for longor for her for the pillow type telephones of Figs. 1 and 2. shortperiods with a maximum of comfort. The acoustic device of Fig. 1comprises a sound A feature of this invention comprises an acouswavereproducer or telephone receiver lo, a soft tic device having acushioning member containresilient member or cushion H in which thereing air passages extending therethrough. ceiver is embedded, and apillow slip, cover, or 15 A further feature comprises an acoustic deviceenvelope l2, preferably of fabric and enclosing having such a cushioningmember and containthe receiver and resilient member. The member ing,also, air passages extending at an angle to the I l comprises aplurality of layers, sheets, or strips first mentioned passages, the airpassages provid- I3, l4, l5, l6, I1 and I8, which, preferably, are ofing ventilation. sponge rubber. Each layer contains a plurality Anotherfeature of this invention comprises of openings, passages, orperforations IS, the

- an acoustic device having a cushioning member openings being so spacedthat, when the layers adapted to havethe users head rest thereagainstare superposed to form the member ll, air pasand comprising superposedlayers of cushioning sages continuous between the outer surfaces ofmaterial. the outer layers l3 and I8 are provided. The ad- 25 Stillanother feature comprises an acoustic jacent surfaces of the resilientlayers are sepadevice having such a cushioning member in which rated bystrips 20 of coarsely woven fabric. The each layer contains a pluralityof air passages receiver is embedded in the lowermost layer l8,extending from one surface to another. its sound wave passage 2| beingsubstantially in A further feature comprises an acoustic devicealignment with one of the air passages l9 inlayer 30 having Suchcushioning member in which air IT. The conductor cord 22 for thereceiver passes I [P8 8 extending ngitudinally between the throughopenings IS in the layers l6 and I1 layers are provided. A and extendsbetween layers l5, It to terminate This invention is embodied,preferably, in an in a jack or plug receptacle 23 on the'outside of u iev comprising an envelope or cover the cover to permit the receiver tobe connected of a soft, pliable material, for instance, of fabric, in anelectrical communications circuit. The in.-

, containing a plurality of superposed layers of a terior of the coverI2 not occupied by the cushion i soft, yielding, resilient material,such as sponge member may be filled with kapok or the likerubber, and atelephone receiver embedded in the Although the cover would besufficient to mainresilient material. Each layer contains a p1u 'tainthe sponge rubber layers in proper position, 40 rality 0f p orations,and the various layers are to avoid any possibility of their shifting,the layarranged so that all the perforations are not covers may besecured together at their edge portions ered, continuous airpassagesbetween the outer by a suitable adhesive or cement.

\ most surfaces of the outermost layers being pro- The device of Fig. 1is adapted to be used as vided. One or each of the adjacent surfaces ofa pillow, the head of the user resting against the layerslmey b oprovided th raised the surface ,24 remote from 'the receiver. It isorridglidbort ons, Coarsely Woven fabric may apparent that ventilationboth transverse or be inserted betwe n t e l y to provide airpasverticaland longitudinal or lateral results from sages extending at' an angle tothe first mentioned the provision of the air passage l9 and fabricpassages. spacers 20, respectively, adding greatly to the 50 A morecomplete understandingof this invencomfort of the user, any movement ofthe user's tion will be obtained from the detailed description head onthe pillow facilitating air flow through which follows read withreference to the accomthe pillow. panying drawing, wherein: Referring toFigs 2 and 3, there is shown a Fig. lisaperspective view of an acousticdevice modification of the acoustic device of Fig. 1. 55

The superposed layers 2!, 26, 21, 28, 20, 30 of resilient material, suchas a sponge rubber, comprising the cushion member 3i each contains aplurality of air passages of perforations ll, one or each adjacentsurface containing a pluralityof shallow grooves 83 connecting the airpassages, which air passages are arranged as in the case of the deviceof Fig. 1 to air passage continuous between the outer surfaces of theouter layers 26, iii. The provision of the grooves 33 allowslongitudinal or lateral air movement between the layers of the cushionmember and obviates the need for the fabric spacers of the structure ofFig. 1. The sound wave reproducer or receiver I0 is embedded in theuppermost or top layer 25 such that sound waves reproduced act directlythrough the cover l2.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the cushioning layers or strips of Figs.2 and 3, integral raised portions or ridges ll maintaining the stripsspaced apart. Although adjacent surfaces of the layers are provided withridges, it is apparent one only thereof need be so formed.

Although this invention has been disclosed with reference to certainspecific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not restrictedthereto, but is limited in scope by the appended claims only.

What is claimed is:

1. An acoustic device comprising a telephone receiver. an envelope forsaid receiver, and means within said envelope constituting a yielding,cushioning member, so that a user may comfortably rest his head on saidenvelope, said means having a plurality of air passages extendingthrough the member from one surface to another, and a plurality of otherair passages extending at an angle to said first mentioned passages.

2. An acousticdevice comprising a telephone receiver, and a cushion-likemember associated with said receiver, said member adapted to haveprovide aosasss her, said receiver being embedded therein and saidcushioning member comprising a plurality of strips of a resilientmaterial containing a plurality of air passages extending therethroughand spaced apart to provide air passages extending at an angle to saidfirst mentioned air passages.

4. An acoustic device comprising a telephone receiver, a pillow-shapedcushioning member and an envelope for said receiver and cushioningmember, said cushioning member comprising superposed layers of resilientmaterial containing a plurality of air passages extending therethrough,one or each of the adjacent surfaces of said layers containing groovesproviding air passages extending at an angle to the first mentioned airpassages.

5. An acoustic device comprising a telephone receiver, a pillow-shapedcushioning member, and an envelope for said receiver and cushioningmember, said cushioning member comprising superposed layers of resilientmaterial containing air passages extending between opposite surfacesthereof and raised portions on one or each adjacent surface of thelayers to provide air passages extending at an angle to the firstmentioned air passages.

6. An acoustic device comprising a sound wave reproducer, and ahead-cushioning member comprising superposed layers of resilientmaterial having perforations therein to provide continuous air passagesbetween the outer surfaces of the outer layers and fabric spacersbetween adjacent layers.

' JOHN J. KUHN.

